The Teal Pumpkin Project
Halloween is an exciting time for most children in America. They get to dress up like their favorite character, hero or occupation and spend a few hours after dark going door to door and getting free candy. There is not much that beats that. For some children though, Halloween may not be as enjoyable.
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According to the Food Allergy Resource Education, or FARE, it is estimated that 1 in 13 children has a food allergy in the United States. That is about 5.9 million American children who have dietary restrictions and may not be able to enjoy the fun of Halloween. Many candy contains gluten, peanuts and dairy, which are extremely common allergens. If a child with a peanut allergy goes to twenty houses, and 15 of those houses give them a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, they probably will not share in the excitement of Halloween as much.
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FARE says children who consume foods that they are allergic to are likely to experience, “skin rashes (hives), difficulty breathing (wheezing), gastrointestinal complaints (nausea and vomiting) as well as potentially cardiovascular collapse (anaphylaxis).” Every year, 200,000 people are hospitalized for a food allergy reaction, about 40 percent of these being children.
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None of those symptoms embody the fun and carefree Halloween experience that every child should get to experience.
In order to create a more inclusive environment for all children, FARE has started a new Halloween movement that strives to promote awareness for children living with allergies. They encourage people who pass out candy to have nonfood treats for children with allergies, such as necklaces and stickers.
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By painting a pumpkin teal blue, the national color for food allergy awareness, people are helping spread the message that millions of children are struggling with allergies and are in turn missing out on the fun of holidays like Halloween. So grab a pumpkin, paint it teal, stick it on your front porch and try to be diverse in your gifts for the children trick or treating this year!
